‘House of horrors’ attacked, court told

Keith Baker pictured at court in Craigavon.

The home of a woman involved in the so called ‘house of horrors’ case has been attacked on several occasions and graffiti daubed on it, Craigavon Magistrates Court heard last Friday.

Keith Baker (58), whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, and his wife, Caroline Bernadette Baker (51), formerly of Drumellan Mews, Craigavon, appeared at a preliminary enquiry.

They sat in the dock – Keith Baker in a wheelchair – as charges were read to them.

Keith Baker faces a number of offences including rape and indecent assault, false imprisonment, false imprisonment to commit sex offences, sexual activity with a person suffering from a mental disability and inciting a person with a mental disability to engage in sexual activity, all alleged to have occurred on dates between 1 May 2004 and 20 December 2012.

His wife Caroline is accused of offences allegedly committed against the same woman including aiding and abetting rape, false imprisonment, false imprisonment to commit a sexual offence, indecent assault, sexual activity with a person with a mental disability and inciting a mentally disabled person to engage in sexual activity, all alleged to have occurred between the same dates.

Both were remanded to appear for arraignment to Craigavon Crown Court on August 7, Keith Baker in custody and Caroline Bernadette Baker on her own bail of £750.

A defence certificate for two counsel was granted in each case. A request was also made for reporting restrictions in respect of Mrs Baker’s address and her image.

Her solicitor said her home had been attacked on a number of occasions and she has had to sell the house.

A detective constable said there had been six attacks since February.

Windows had been smashed and graffiti daubed on the property saying: ‘house of horrors’ and ‘get the scum out of here’.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said there was a serious threat in this case as her home had been attacked on a number of occasions.

He imposed reporting restrictions banning the use of her new address and the publication of any image of her.